Cedar at the Branch is a pet-friendly Dallas apartment community to consider if you are searching for high-end pet-friendly apartments close to SMU campus. Its published amenities include an on-site pet park and pet spa, plus one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans ranging from 646 to 1,605 square feet. The property information available here does not list a street address, so confirm the exact address, route, and commute time to Southern Methodist University with the leasing office before you apply.
Being near SMU matters for more than undergraduate classes. Graduate students, faculty, visiting researchers, medical and professional-school commuters, and staff often want a home base near University Park, Mockingbird Lane, North Central Expressway (US 75), and the restaurants, coffee shops, and services around Greenville Avenue and Mockingbird Station. If you have a dog, the search becomes more specific because not every upscale apartment community offers practical pet amenities on site.
SMU’s main campus sits in University Park, surrounded by well-known Dallas corridors including Mockingbird Lane, Hillcrest Avenue, Greenville Avenue, Lovers Lane, and US 75. Many residents in this part of Dallas drive for daily errands and campus access, while others use rideshare, bike routes where practical, or DART service from the Mockingbird Station area. Before signing a lease, it is worth testing your actual route at the time of day you expect to travel, especially if your schedule overlaps with class changes, football weekends, or evening events at Moody Coliseum and the Meadows area.
For pet owners, Cedar at the Branch’s most relevant community features are straightforward: a pet park for daily outdoor time and a pet spa for cleanup after walks or rainy days. Those amenities can reduce the friction of apartment life with a dog, especially when you are balancing campus schedules, work, and Dallas weather. You should still ask the office for the current pet policy, including pet limits, fees, monthly pet rent, breed or weight restrictions, and any required screening documentation.
The apartment mix gives renters a real range to compare. Current published floor plans include one-bedroom layouts such as A2, A3, A7, A8, A9, A10, A12, and A16 from 646 to 996 square feet, two-bedroom layouts such as B1 and B3 from 1,180 to 1,227 square feet, and a three-bedroom C1 at 1,605 square feet. That range can work for a single resident with a pet, two roommates who want separate baths, or a household that needs an extra bedroom for study or work, but current pricing and availability should be confirmed directly with the leasing office.
Inside the homes, the features that fit this search include quartz countertops in the kitchen and bath, handscraped hardwood floors, walk-in closets with custom wood shelving, washer and dryer, and smart home technology. Select homes may also include a gourmet kitchen island, built-in wine rack, or built-in desk, so ask which exact features are included in the apartment you tour rather than assuming every layout has the same finish package.
The broader amenity package is also useful for someone connected to SMU but not trying to spend every day on campus. Cedar at the Branch lists a wellness center with Technogym equipment, business center with PCs, entertainment lounge with Wi-Fi, rooftop lounge, resort-style pool with tanning areas, grilling stations, outdoor entertainment space with a fire pit, 24/7 package lockers, online rent payment and service requests, 24/7 emergency maintenance, a dedicated resident services office, and private one- and two-car garages in select cases.
The honest trade-off is that this may not be the best fit if you want a car-free, truly walk-to-every-class lifestyle without checking the route first. Dallas traffic around US 75, Mockingbird Lane, and campus event areas can be busy, and “close to SMU” feels different depending on your exact building, parking plan, class schedule, and whether you are driving, biking, or using transit.
If Cedar at the Branch is on your shortlist, schedule a tour and ask the leasing team to confirm the exact pet policy, available floor plans, current pricing, garage options, and your most realistic commute route to SMU.